Countryside Survey 1998 estimates of linear feature lengths in Great Britain

This dataset consists of stock (length) data for linear features across Great Britain in 1998. The data are national estimates generated by analysing the sample data from 569 1km squares surveyed for the Countryside Survey long term monitoring project, then scaling up to a national level. The data are presented as mean lengths for 7 different feature categories within 45 different land class types, based on the ITE Land Classification. The Countryside Survey is a unique study or 'audit' of the natural resources of the UK's countryside, carried out by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. The sample sites are chosen from a stratified random sample, based on a 15 by 15 km grid of GB. Surveys have been carried out in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1998 and 2007 with repeated visits to the majority of squares. The countryside is sampled and surveyed using rigorous scientific methods, allowing us to compare new results with those from previous surveys. In this way we can detect the gradual and subtle changes that occur in the UK's countryside over time. In addition to linear features, habitat areas, species plot, soil plot, freshwater habitat and satellite map data are also produced by Countryside Survey.

本数据集包含1998年英国全境线性地物的存量（长度）数据。该数据由英国生态与水文研究中心（Centre for Ecology & Hydrology）开展的《乡村调查》（Countryside Survey）长期监测项目生成：研究人员先对569个1平方千米样方的采样数据进行分析，得到全国层面的估算值，再将其外推至国家尺度。数据以ITE土地分类体系（ITE Land Classification）为基础，按45种不同土地类型下的7类地物类别统计平均长度。

《乡村调查》是针对英国乡村自然资源开展的独特研究或“普查”，由英国生态与水文研究中心实施。其采样点位基于英国15×15千米网格进行分层随机抽样选取，项目分别于1978年、1984年、1990年、1998年及2007年开展调查，且对绝大多数样方进行了重复走访。该研究采用严谨的科学方法开展乡村采样与调查，可将最新调查结果与既往调查结果进行对比，以此识别英国乡村随时间推移发生的渐进式、细微变化。

除线性地物外，《乡村调查》还产出了生境面积、物种样地、土壤样地、淡水生境及卫星影像地图等数据集。